Best things to do at night in Bangalore

1. Cocktails at a Rooftop Bar

A favorite thing to do at night in Bangalore is getting a few cocktails at one of the many rooftop bars in the city. While there may be rooftop bars in other parts of India as well, none share Bangalore’s year-round pleasant weather. Most rooftop bars here offer a delectable selection of cocktails.

Whether you like them shaken or stirred, you’ll find your favorite one at Bangalore’s happening rooftop bars. Besides the delicious cocktails, the bars offer patrons a panoramic view of neighborhood skylines. Some of these rooftop bars have special events like karaoke nights and live performances on the weekends.

Double Decker at Brigade Road for its Pant-t-house cocktail (made with a rum base) and the Koramangala Social for its South Pacific Rim (made using Bacardi Carta Blanca and Captain Morgan) are places you should check out.

Average Cost: The average cost for two at any of the rooftops bars in Bangalore is between Rs. 1300 and Rs. 1700.

Timings: Most rooftop bars in Bangalore are open until about 1 am on the weekends.

2. Go, Bar Hopping,

Even if you’re new to Bangalore, you may already know that Indiranagar is the place to go get a drink. A buzzing neighborhood, the place is always bustling with activity at night. There are plenty of bars here, each offering something unique, whether it is karaoke or lazy lounging.

One of the best bars in Indiranagar is Hangover, which houses a Volkswagen replica that’s used to serve cocktails. Other cool bars in the area are Monkey Bar, Toit, and The Humming Tree.

Another great place for bar hopping in Bangalore is Whitefield.

In this suburb, there are plenty of bars where one can enjoy a night out with friends. The Whitefield Arms Pub is a unique place to check out. It is designed to look like a typical British Pub and has an open terrace with an excellent view of the Whitefield neighborhood.

Average Cost: The average cost at a bar in Bangalore ranges from Rs. 1200 to Rs. 2500 for two.

Timings: Most bars are open until 1 am on the weekends

3. Go on a street food trail

Bangalore is home to some of India’s best eateries. You have a plethora of options to choose from, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. For vegetarian food, head to V V Puram Food Street after 7 pm. The street is abuzz with foodies who come here to savor everything from dosas to pav bhaji and even dal bajjis.

The street is home to over 20 food stalls that serve delicious foods that are sure to light up the darkest of your days. If you’ve still got the room for more, head over to Jayanagar which is open until midnight and really popular for chaat. Popular places to try here are Rakesh Kumar Pani Puri & Chaat, Hari Super Sandwich, and The Lassi Park.

Average Cost: Street food is cheap in Bangalore. You can expect to shell out Rs. 200 to Rs. 500 on a meal for two

Timings: Most places shut around 11 pm, though some stay open until midnight

4. Catch a Live Gig

Bangalore has had some of the biggest live acts perform there in recent years. Grammy Award-winning performers like Metallica and Iron Maiden and iconic musicians like Guns n Roses and Buddy Guy have all performed in Bangalore.

The best part about the live gig scene here in Bangalore is that it attracts crowds no matter what the genre is. It doesn’t matter whether they play EDM, rock, pop, jazz, Sufi, or even Bollywood, musicians all play to packed houses in the city.

The city also plays host to some amazing music festivals, such as NH7 and Fireflies Festival of Music. Some of the top venues for live gigs in the city are Hard Rock Café on MG Road, Indigo XP in Koramangala, and The Humming Tree in Indiranagar.

Average Cost: A music festival will cost around Rs. 3000 per day, while tickets to see some international acts could be much higher

5. Camp under the stars

If you aren’t too keen on exploring the night food or the pub life in Bangalore, a fun thing to do is camping. Around Bangalore, there are many places where overnight camps are held. These are organized by groups that charge around Rs. 1200 to Rs. 2500 per person. They organize the whole camp, so you don’t even have to carry a tent.

Camping in the mountains or hills is the perfect way to meet new people. Some popular camping sites near Bangalore are Kanakapura (located about 63 kilometers from Bangalore city center), and the Ramanagara Hills, about 50 kilometers from Bangalore city. If you’re looking for more scenic spots, don’t forget to check out the Manchanabele Arkavati River backwaters.

Average Cost: Rs. 1200 to Rs. 2500, depending on the trek and company that’s organizing it

6. Do a night trek

Bangalore has several trekking options in and around the area, but the best one perhaps is Skandagiri trek. It is located about 70 kilometers from Bangalore and is very safe. The climb up is easy and, if you leave around midnight, you could be up there to watch the beautiful sunrise.

On the weekends, you will find many trekkers making the climb up to the mountain. A late-night trek, especially on the weekends, is a great way to make new friends.

Average Cost: Around Rs. 1000 per person, usually including refreshments

7. Go Karting

A fun way to spend the night out in Bangalore is to burn rubber on one of the many go-karting tracks that are available. Maneuvering the vehicle is pretty easy and the track layout is simple, so you don’t have to worry about anything, all you need to do if have fun riding the kart. In fact, you don’t even need to know how to drive.

T -Zone Club, near Marathahalli Bridge, is one of the best places for go-karting. Most of these place shut before 10 pm, though, so be sure to head there early.

Average Cost: Rs. 300 to Rs. 600 per person for 10 laps

8. Bowling

Bowling is a super-fun after-drinks activity with your buddies. In Bangalore, there are a few bowling alleys that are open till about 12 am. From experienced players to novices, all are welcome to these bowling alleys to enjoy a game of bowling.

If bowling isn’t quite your thing, don’t worry; most of these places will also have other sports, such as air hockey and foosball. Popular bowling alleys in Bangalore are PVR BluO inside the Orion Mall and Amoeba on Church Street.